I hope to bring my cat next year... but this year I'd like to observe and learn. Where is the best place to hang and watch? Or is everything closed to participants?

Everything is open to the public.

The docks are available for close up look at the boats until dusk Friday & Saturday. Then the gates are locked and full security is on all night.

looks like it might be a lil bumpy tomorrow

A LITTLE bumpy?

It's been blowing like crazy for several days. I'd say a minimum of 5's tomorrow in the Gulf, out of the south, with the boats running directly into them on the second leg to Sarasota.

Apache weather!

5 footers in the bay yesterday...

should be a great day for pix! chopper should be here in a min. gonna be an interesting day.

Is it still on?

Several years ago it (Sarasota) was canceled because it was too rough . . . sort of similar to today.

I was on the bridge at Tierra Verde at 1030 and watched about 40 or so boats come through, a totally awsome sight!
The majority apparently ran straight south from the Pier then west under the first bridge that leads to the Skyway from St Pete, while a few others came around from Pass a Grille beach and up the icw then east to Tierra Verde!
I did read a post with directions indicating that route.
VERY WINDY to say the least!!!

Rough. Most turned around and went back to the docks.

Yeah, I talked with one of the guys on one of the 36 Nortech cats and he was saying that they were borderline on making the run. That to me is amazing, to big for a 36 footer...I gotta a lot to learn about this place before I put the boat in the water...

We went down to watch the start and the bay was rough. It was a wet and bumpy ride in my 44. I talked to one of the guys on one of the pace boats and he said of 78 boats registered only 8 made it to the lunch stop. We went back to Westshore Yacht Club and watched the air show.